Aire Durando by Manuel del Cabral

Manuel del Cabral was born on March 7th 1907 in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic. Manuel was first recognized when he wrote Compadre Mon in 1943 which spoke of injustice. Most of Cabral’s work focused on love, politics, society and culture and the hardships of Afro-Caribbeans.

Here is one of Cabral’s poems I am compelled to share. I cannot describe how I felt upon reading it. This poem reminds me of a man whose voice has been silenced by physical death but its deeds in life have turned him into an immortal. The original poem is in Spanish but we’ve translated into English to the best of our capabilities. Hope you like it.

Aire Durando by Manuel del Cabral

¿Quién ha matado este hombreque su voz no está enterrada?

Hay muertos que van subiendocuanto su ataúd más baja…

Este sudor… ¿por quién muere?¿Por qué cosa muere un pobre?

¿Quién ha matado estas manos?¡No cabe en la muerte un hombre!

Hay muertos que van subiendocuanto su ataúd más baja…

¿Quién acostó su estaturaque su voz está parada?

Hay muertos como raícesque hundidas… dan fruto al ala.

¿Quién ha matado estas manos,este sudor, esta cara?

Hay muertos que van subiendocuanto más su ataúd baja…

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Who has killed this man whose voice is yet to be burried?

There are the dead that ascend as their coffens descend

This sweat…for whom to die? For which cause does the poor die?

Who has killed these hands? There is no room for a man in death!

There are the dead that ascend as their coffens descend

Who laid down his estature that his voice came to a halt?

There are dead like roots that while deep rooted still give birth to wings